Method for bonding components by using energy ray-curable adhesive

Abstract

A method for bonding components to each other according to this invention bonds, to a plate-shaped member or a shaft, an ultraviolet-curable adhesive cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays and a wavelength conversion element which emits ultraviolet rays by irradiation with X-rays. The plate-shaped member is brought into contact with the shaft through a bonding layer formed by the ultraviolet-curable adhesive and the wavelength conversion element. The X-rays are transmitted through the plate-shaped member or the shaft to the bonding layer located between the plate-shaped member and the shaft to cure the ultraviolet-curable adhesive.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for bonding a first component containing a material incapable of transmitting an energy ray in a first wavelength range to a second component in fabricating an assembly comprising the first component and the second component, wherein the assembly comprises an optical encoder and the first component comprises a slit plate used for the optical encoder,
 the method comprising: 
 applying, to one component of the first component and the second component,
 a wavelength conversion element that converts an energy ray in a second wavelength range capable of being transmitted through the first component into an energy ray in the first wavelength range and that emits the energy ray in the first wavelength range, and 
 an energy ray-curable adhesive curable by irradiation with the energy ray in the first wavelength range, the energy ray-curable adhesive being applied on the wavelength conversion element; 
 
 bringing the other component of the first component and the second component into contact with the energy ray curable adhesive; and 
 transmitting the energy ray in the second wavelength range through the first component to the energy ray-curable adhesive and the wavelength conversion element, thus curing the energy ray-curable adhesive. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the energy ray-curable adhesive comprises an ultraviolet-curable adhesive cured by irradiation with light in a range of ultraviolet wavelengths to blue wavelengths, 
 the energy ray in the second wavelength range comprises one of an X-ray and an energy ray having a transmittance higher than a transmittance of the X-ray, and 
 the wavelength conversion element comprises a phosphor which emits light in the range of ultraviolet wavelengths to blue wavelengths in response to one of the X-ray and the energy ray having the transmittance higher than the transmittance of the X-ray. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first component is made of polyetherimide resin.